The Messenger Hit With Class Action Over Recent Mass Layoffs

Former staffers of The Messenger slapped the now-defunct digital news startup with a proposed federal class action, accusing the company of failing to provide hundreds of workers with notice before shuttering the outlet earlier this week.

The Messenger, founded by Jimmy Finkelstein, abruptly laid off about 300 employees Wednesday. The company failed to give workers at least 60 days notice of their impending terminations and denied benefits and wages they’re owed, according to the suit filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

JAF Communications Inc., The Messenger’s owner, is accused of violating the federal and New York Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, a labor law that safeguards employees from mass layoffs or shutdowns.

The WARN Act was specifically designed to allow workers to prepare and look for new jobs before they’re out of work. It generally requires at least 60 days’ notice in advance of significant layoffs or plant closures.

The suit comes amid a swath of layoffs in the media industry, including the Los Angeles Times, Time, and Sports Illustrated.

Pilar Belendez-Desha, who worked as a senior producer at The Messenger, brought the complaint and seeks to represent “herself and other similarly situated former employees who worked for defendant and were terminated without cause.”

Employees first learned about the company’s shuttering from a New York Times news article, the complaint said. “Within minutes after the story broke, The Messenger confirmed to the approximately 300 employees that they were terminated effective immediately,” it said.

The company didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

Raisner Roupinian LLP represents the proposed class.

The case is Belendez-Desha v. JAF Comms. Inc., S.D.N.Y., No. 1:24-cv-00741, complaint filed 2/1/24.